Packard Bell � Recovery and Master CD

Those who have the OEM licenses on their pc � which are licenses that combine software exclusively for original equipment contract between Microsoft and assemblers.
To prevent re-using its software on other machines, Microsoft requires assemblers such as Packard Bell to establish a protection system, called �tattoo�, which is associated with a code defining the motherboard, hard drive and software.

These PCs are shipped without CD but with a copy of the operating system, drivers and saved on a tattoo hidden partition allowing you to restore the system to its original state with a backup of the tattoo.

The reason of safeguarding the hidden partition

Most of these PCs are equipped with a digital watermarking located in both the BIOS and the boot track of the hard disk.

If this track (on which the tattoo is part of the famous hidden partition) is altered, erased or damaged, the disk cannot boot because the BIOS will not recognize the tattoo on this disc drive.

Ditto if you want to install a new hard drive: The new drive will be re-tattooed otherwise it will not be recognized by the BIOS. Impossible for you to re-tattoo if you have not burned the Master CD!

If you make a system restore before the famous engraved CD, you may lose that famous score.

Of the older models, this partition is erased when it is used so that there are no backup software, tattoo, drivers lost!
It is therefore essential to burn the contents of this score on CD. This procedure is explained in the manual accompanying the PC but the urgency of this manipulation does not appear to be sufficient evidence (a small passage on the forums the users of the forum Packard Bell is quite instructive in this regard: the very common) .

How to re-tattoo?

You can do so, if you have the created the Master CD but if in case you don�t have the Master CD:
To do this you need:

1. Retrieve generic Master CD

• Try his luck on the forum veuvenoire07: there is often way to get access to the hidden partition even in case of malfunction.
• Order CD "generic" at the Hotline (paid), or require sending them free if you are still under warranty or it is a problem during the burning process.

2. Re-tattoo

These generic CD does not solve the problem completely. It is sometimes also retatouer the PC to install them:
In this case, to know the exact procedure: having to pass by specialists (hotline and / or forums).
Here in any case, a technique tested by myself with success on the PC of a friend: How to tattoo

Note: For PC (> 2003) having the original operating system, tattooing is not necessary in case of restoration with generic CD Masters controlled the hotline.

Linux

If you install Linux on a machine already equipped with Windows and that the hard drive is tattooed, you will, logically, install the switch startup Lilo or Grub. However, the switch will destroy the tattoo!

Machines HP, Compaq and Packard Bell are concerned!

The only solution is to create the Linux boot disks instead of Lilo or Grub. Think about it imperative at the end of your Linux installation!